Code of Colorado Regulations
1000 - Department of Public Health and Environment
1015 - Prevention Services Division (1009, 1015, 1016 Series)
6 CCR 1015-6 - STATE-DESIGNATED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREA DESIGNATION
Section 6 CCR 1015-6-1.5 - Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area Determination Method

1) Catchment areas are created for analysis of primary care provider capacity by determining standard road travel distances from the population centroid of each census block group in Colorado using a variable two-step floating catchment area method.

2) The population of each catchment area is the civilian noninstitutionalized population according to the most recent available data from U.S. Census Bureau at the time of analysis.

3) The estimated demand for primary care services within each catchment area is determined by multiplying the civilian noninstitutionalized population in the catchment area (section 1.5(2)) adjusted for rates of demand for primary care services according to age and sex. Rates of demand for primary care services are determined using the most recent available data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

4) The estimated primary care services supply in each catchment area is determined by surveying primary care providers with a practice address within the catchment area. The list of primary care providers is derived from the most recent available data reported in the Colorado Health Systems Directory administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Primary Care Office. Each primary care provider is assigned a primary care service 12 month productivity rate. The sum of encounter productivity for all practicing primary care providers in the catchment area is the total estimated primary care services supply in the catchment area.

5) Designation of a census block group as a State Designated Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area occurs when the supply of primary health service encounters falls below the per capita demand for primary care demand within the catchment area.

6) Current designation status of each region of the state will be posted at least annually on or about July 1 on a publicly accessible website.